NFL draft prospect Sam says he's gay

Summary of 119 articles · Updated Feb 14, 2014

Sam being gay didn't become public until Sunday night, when Sam announced it to the New York Times and ESPN. In recent interviews, Michael Sam, a defensive lineman for the Missouri Tigers and top NFL prospect, has revealed that he is gay. In light of Mich… (more)ael Sam 's announcement Sunday night , we ponder the question: Could the New York Jets draft the former Missouri defensive end? Sam, the first openly gay NFL draft prospect, would attract major media attention wherever he plays, but it would be magnified in a market as large as New York. Thomas said his “views as a Christian” contributed to his own uncertainty about how things will go for Sam in the NFL and said he was “pretty sure” he’s played with other gay players during his career, but that there was a big difference between “knowing and not knowing” when it came to the locker room. If, as many have suggested, Sam has settled in as a mid-round NFL prospect, he falls into the gulf of players who’ll have to fight it out in offseason workouts, training camp, and the preseason, with some making the 53-man roster and plenty getting cut. They also began their collective ranking of the Browns’ 53-man roster at the end of last season with the bottom 10 players.Doug Dieken, from the PNC Bank Cleveland Browns Radio Network, joined the show to provide his analysis on the Browns’ coaching staff, along with his thoughts on how NFL players and coaches will react to Sam’s announcement.Je’Rod Cherry rounded out the show to provide a first-hand understanding of the culture

Report: Michael Sam's father says he was misquoted

The father of defensive end Michael Sam said in a Galveston (Texas) Daily News story that he was misquoted in a New York Times article that portrayed him as being unsupportive of his son's decision to publicly announce that he is gay.

Bengals would welcome openly gay player

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Bengals likely won't draft Michael Sam, but count them among the teams that would gladly welcome him or any other openly gay player. "The Bengals are about winning football games and we are a welcoming workplace that su…

Fox: Ultimately, Sam's story is about football

Is the Michael Sam “media circus” already over?

Nearly four days ago, former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam came out as gay. Since then, it’s been one of the top stories in all of sports, with multiple teams and owners and executives issuing statements, multiple players talking about it, the Comm…

Goodell welcomes Sam, says 'good for him'

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell expressed public support for Michael Sam for the first time Wednesday night, three days after the All-American defensive lineman from Missouri that he is gay during an interview with ESPN's "Outside the Lines."

Goodell promises “further training” in response to Sam’s declaration

Plenty of owners and General Managers and coaches have issued statements about defensive end Michael Sam, the first openly gay NFL player. The league had issued a statement of support upon Sam’s decision to come out as gay three nights ago, but the Comm…

Cowboys join other teams in saying they would welcome Michael Sam. Isn’t the better question what teams wouldn’t?

In the wake of Michael Sam’s declaration, word comes from one NFL team after another that it would have no problem welcoming an openly gay player into the fold. The Cowboys join this persistent and predictable drumbeat. Stephen Jones, the club’s executi…

Michael Irvin: NFL players should be mature enough to accept Michael Sam as a teammate

In July 2011, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin was pictured on the cover of Out, a magazine focused on gay fashion and lifestyle. In that edition, the Pro Football Hall of Famer said he would support a gay player. In a recent interview …

Terrell Thomas not sure NFL is ready for an openly gay player

Earlier this week, former Ravens and Vikings center Matt Birk was asked about Michael Sam and said he thought that someone’s sexuality didn’t come into play at work. Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas isn’t so sure that Birk is right. Thomas called the at…

New York Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson knew of Michael Sam’s sexual orientation long before he announced publicly Sunday night that he was gay. Richardson was roommates with Sam at the University of Missouri. Even before the rest of their Mi…

Father of Michael Sam went drinking after learning son is gay

Missouri defensive end Michael Sam mostly has received support since announcing he is gay, but his father reportedly is struggling with the news. Sam came out to his teammates in August, but he didn’t disclose his sexual orientation to his parents until…

Sam’s father struggles with his son’s revelation

As much as we’d all like to believe that a person’s decision to come out as gay is a non-issue in 2014, it is. For some, it’s a very big issue. Michael Sam already has found that out, based on his own father’s reaction to the news that Sam is gay. Micha…

Richardson roomed with Michael Sam

Sheldon Richardson remembered Michael Sam as "scared and nervous" with his sexuality during their college days at Missouri. On the football field, Sam was just the opposite -- "a killer," according to Richardson. The New York Jets de…

Michael Sam's Father Did Not Take His Son's Coming Out Smoothly

Michael Sam's Missouri teammates generally embraced him when he revealed that he was gay last August. The majority of the NFL's reaction was positive, too, after Sam told the public Sunday. But Sam's father, Michael Sam, Sr., didn't have a similar react…

Fear of having to cut Sam could impact his draft stock

Our position on an openly gay player in the NFL has been consistent and clear. It shouldn’t matter and, hopefully, one day it won’t. To get to the point where it doesn’t matter, multiple players will have to come out as gay, the media and the fans will …

Sam likely not a fit for Rams

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- For all the discussion about what Missouri defensive end Michael Sam's acknowledgement that he's gay could mean for his NFL future, nothing will matter as much in the final evaluation as whether or not he can be a productive player in…

Retired Young: 'Guarantee I've had gay teammate'

Retired veteran and seven-time All-Star Michael Young believes there wouldn't be any issue with a gay player in a major-league clubhouse. In fact, he pretty sure he's had a gay teammate during his career, most of it spent with the Texas Rangers.

Is NFL ready for Michael Sam?

NFL Scouting Combine looms as next hurdle for Michael Sam

The evaluation of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam — the co-Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year who is set to become the first openly gay player in the NFL — only will intensify with the NFL Scouting Combine next week in Indianapolis …

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam joined several NFL owners such as New England's Bob Krafter and the New York Giants' John Mara in saying they'd draft openly gay draft prospect Michael Sam if they liked him as a player.

GM: Sam will be judged like other prospects

The San Francisco 49ers have joined those around the NFL in commending Missouri pass-rusher Michael Sam for the courage he displayed when he announced he is gay on Sunday. Gay was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and is considered a mid-roun…

Would Raiders draft Michael Sam?

Does Missouri defensive end Michael Sam coming out as gay Sunday night on ESPN’s "Outside the Lines" affect the Oakland Raiders' thinking on the NFL draft prospect? Doesn't sound like it, so long as Sam has the skill set to play in the NFL. &q…

Michael Sam to the Jets? It's complicated

In light of Michael Sam's announcement Sunday night, we ponder the question: Could the New York Jets draft the former Missouri defensive end? Sam, the first openly gay NFL draft prospect, would attract major media attention wherever he plays, but it wou…

Missouri defensive end Michael Sam’s decision to tell the world he is gay could permanently impact athletes who are scared to reveal their sexual orientation. And President Barack Obama supports Sam’s choice. Sam’s homosexuality became public knowledge …

Would the Redskins draft Sam?

Michael Sam is a potential 3-4 outside linebacker who happens to be gay, and potentially the first openly gay player in the NFL. But come draft time the Redskins need to ask themselves one question: Can he help them? He’s a potential 3-4 outside linebac…

NFL teams already publicly saying they’d draft Michael Sam

Many teams put out the message right away on Monday that they would draft Michael Sam if he can help them win. Privately, who knows what teams really think about Sam, the Missouri defensive end who announced Sunday he is gay. But here's why Sam's transi…

Would Michael Sam fit with the Giants?

The news of the day is Missouri defensive end Michael Sam, who announced in advance of next week's scouting combine that he is gay. One of the many ways we are covering this story on ESPN is by taking a bit of a team-by-team look at where Sam might fit.…

Missouri DE Michael Sam wouldn’t be a ideal fit (on the field) for the Dallas Cowboys

Missouri defensive end Michael Sam revealed on Sunday that he is gay. But let’s keep the subject of Sam on the field and how he might fit — or not — with the Dallas Cowboys. Sam was one of the most dominant players in college football as a senior with t…

Lions issue statement supporting openly gay prospect Michael Sam

'We applaud Michael Sam for his courage and proactive approach, and we will evaluate him, like every player, based solely on his ability to help the Lions win football games,' Lions president Tom Lewand said in a statement Monday.

Is NFL locker room ready for Michael Sam? | Commentary

Packers, Eagles, say they have no problem with Michael Sam

The early rush of opinions on out-of-the-closet Missouri defensive end Michael Sam was largely negative, with unnamed scouts downplaying his ability and accentuating the possible negatives. But now that people with names are beginning to talk, the opini…

Giants owners express support for Sam

One of the major questions in the wake of Missouri defensive lineman Michael Sam's announcement he is gay is how NFL teams will react. With the draft less than three months away and the scouting combine next week, the focus will be on how and whether Sa…

Graziano: Michael Sam should be commended

Exploring Michael Sam and Patriots fit

With Missouri defensive end Michael Sam announcing publicly Sunday that he was gay, putting him in position to become the first openly active gay player in NFL history, the thought probably crossed the mind of many team-based reporters: Could you envisi…

Bernie: Where will Sam go in the draft?

Some teams could now be more inclined to draft Michael Sam

At first blush, the news that draft prospect Michael Sam is openly gay could cause his draft stock to fall because, all things being equal, teams will be more inclined to opt for a player who won’t be bringing extra media attention and news trucks and a…

Michael Sam is supposedly going to be a ‘distraction,’ which doesn’t make any sense

Think back to a year ago, when drafting Manti Te'o was going to be the death of some NFL team's locker room. He won't be accepted! There will be a media circus every day! DISTRACTIONS!!!! During the NFL season, I don't remember one significant or intere…

Michael Sam went public now to avoid someone else breaking news

While defensive end Michael Sam came out to the general public on Sunday night, his teammates at the University of Missouri and several NFL teams already knew about his sexual orientation. That knowledge began to spread during the Senior Bowl last month…

Michael Sam announces he is gay, and Columbia's SoCo Club cheers

First lady: Gay football player is 'inspiration'

The first lady took to Twitter on Monday to comment on Michael Sam, the all-American college player who announced Sunday that he is gay. Mrs. Obama says she 'couldn't be prouder' of Sam's courage, both on and off the field.

Would the Titans draft Michael Sam?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The question of the day is about Missouri’s Michael Sam, who is preparing for the combine after publicly sharing that he is gay. He’s a defensive end who played quite well at Missouri, where he was SEC Defensive Player of the Year al…

Sam’s decision and the pre-draft “anonymous scout” dynamic

No one will know the impact of Michael Sam’s decision to come out as gay until the draft begins. Until then, we’ll hear plenty of talk about how it may affect him. Much of it will come from scouts who speak to the media anonymously. Because that’s what …

NFL Executives Say The League Isn't Ready For Michael Sam

There are layers to former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam's coming-out. The first is that it happened, and the sun came up with no more than the expected amounts of bigotry. The second is how it happened, and OutSports has a fascinating behind-the-s…

Ayanbadejo: Coming out to team made Sam a better player

Prior to Missouri defensive end Michael Sam announcing he was gay last night, he spent the weekend with a number of supporters. Former Ravens linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo was among them, and he thinks Sam will be a better NFL player for yesterday’s ann…

Granderson: Michael Sam a novelty? Not really

Predicitions of draft day drop for Michael Sam

On Sunday, defensive end Michael Sam told the world the same thing he told his University of Missouri teammates before the season. Sam publicly announced that he is homosexual, putting the 2013 SEC defensive player of the year in position to be the firs…

Would Falcons draft Michael Sam?

Plenty of teams have done their homework on Michael Sam, but the Atlanta Falcons got a chance to dissect his ability a little more closely than others. The Missouri defensive end, who acknowledged publicly that he is gay in an interview with ESPN's &quo…

Michael Sam reveals he’s gay: Is the NFL ready for him?

The NFL’s Big Test

Michael Sam was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year last season. (Brandon Wade/AP) “Unfortunately, this is a lot more okay in society than it is in lots of locker rooms. Some locker rooms are still stuck in the ’50s.” —NFL scout The news spread q…

Before last season, defensive end Michael Sam told the University of Missouri football team he was gay, according to the New York Times. Sam being gay didn't seem to affect that team at all. The Tigers had a great season, making the SEC championship gam…

Here's How The NFL Reacted To Michael Sam Coming Out

When Michael Sam came out tonight, likely becoming the first publicly gay active NFL player next season, we knew there'd be some shocking reactions from people on Twitter, including some of those in the NFL. Here, to preserve them publicly, are those tw…

Bettis, Clark support Michael Sam

PITTSBURGH -- Former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and free safety Ryan Clark each said the time is right for an openly gay player in the NFL after Missouri defensive end Michael Sams' announcement Sunday that he is gay. "For him to make it p…

Mizzou's Sam a Ram? Probably not

Kluwe: Minnesota Could Be Good Landing Spot For Michael Sam

Former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe doesn’t deny it could be odd if the team were to draft Michael Sam and Mike Priefer remains on the staff. But Kluwe said he believes Minnesota could be a good landing spot for the University of Missouri defensive end wh…

Cruz: Sam would be accepted by G-Men

If Michael Sam ends up on the Giants, Victor Cruz believes everything will be perfectly fine. Cruz, speaking at a charity event in Jersey City on Wednesday night, spoke highly of his organization and said his team would be accepting of a gay teammate.

Advertisers seek Sam since announcement

Stephen Ross: Michael Sam would be welcomed on the Dolphins

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, whose franchise came under scrutiny last year over allegations that a player was treated badly in the locker room, wants to make clear that Michael Sam will be treated well if he ends up in Miami. Ross released a statement W…

Dansby says it’ll be difficult for Michael Sam

The voices continue to emerge regarding the decision of Michael Sam to come out as gay. As if comments from Sam’s father didn’t make it clear that Sam will face real challenges, Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby has said that, indeed, it won’t be easy …

Pierre Garcon on Michael Sam coming out

When asked about Michael Sam coming out this week, Doug Williams, the Redskins new personnel executive, was supportive of gay players in the NFL. From Insider: “I think eventually, we have to get to that point when we talk about people’s sexuality and g…

Agent says Michael Sam will be 'marketing dream'

Two CFL players fined for social media comments about Michael Sam

There’s been a non-stop stream of reactions to Michael Sam’s public revelation that he’s gay over the last three days and two CFL players have been reprimanded by the league for their responses on social media. Montreal slotback Arland Bruce III suggest…

GM: Sam's sexuality won't affect evaluation

Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff made clear the team’s stance it terms of how openly gay prospect Michael Sam will be evaluated prior to draft. "We recognize and appreciate the courage that Michael Sam demonstrated with his recent a…

Ravens president “disappointed” Sam’s sexuality is “such a big issue”

At this point, it probably would be easier to list the teams that haven’t issued a statement regarding former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam. All have been positive, or at least neutral. While we want to be fair to the various teams that have taken …

Matt Birk: Someone’s sexuality doesn’t come into play at work

Former Vikings and Ravens center Matt Birk wrote an op-ed opposing expanding the legal definition of marriage for the Minneapolis Star Tribune in 2012, which made him an obvious call for comment in the wake of Missouri defensive end Michael Sam’s announ…

Bears to judge Sam solely on ability

Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery expressed “tremendous respect” for Missouri defensive end Michael Sam, an All-American defensive end from Missouri and SEC defensive player of the year, who on Sunday revealed he is gay. Speaking to Sam during th…

Breakfast with Bernie: Sam will join winner in NFL

Elway applauds Michael Sam

Someday, the decision of a football player to come out as gay will be met with not even a shrug. To get to that day, however, someone had to be the first. And so the positive words of support continue for former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam. “I ap…

John Elway says he'd have no problem drafting Michael Sam

NFL applauds Michael Sam

It was inevitable that an NFL player would come out as gay, even if it was unexpected that the declaration would come from a player on the starting edge of his career. And so it was inevitable that the NFL would greet the moment with an official stateme…

Giants Owner Tisch Speaks Out In Support Of Michael Sam

Giants co-owner Steve Tisch joined a wave of support for Missouri defensive end Michael Sam, Conor Orr of the Newark Star Ledger reports. The 2013 SEC defensive player of the year announced he was gay on Sunday, and is looking to become the first openly…

Vikings owner supports Michael Sam

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf released a statement on Monday afternoon supporting Missouri defensive end Michael Sam's decision to announce he is gay, calling Sam "courageous" and saying the Vikings would welcome any player …

NFLPA prez: Players will accept Michael Sam “with open arms”

While employers line up to talk about how accepting they’ll be to openly gay draft prospect Michael Sam, the president of the players union said he doesn’t think it will be a problem in the locker room. “I know that the union will accept him with open a…

Union prez: Sam will 'positively' impact NFL

Last May, after NBA player Jason Collins came out as gay, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he’d welcome gay players to the Patriots. Now that an incoming rookie has come out as gay, Kraft has reiterated — and elaborated on — his position. “We’re about w…

Robert Kraft wary on giving Talib big money

Patriots owner Robert Kraft realizes he will have to spend more money on Talib to get him back than he did last year (one-year, $5 million), but didn’t sound like he wanted to give too much to the talented, but injury prone corner. “Well, we want to ret…

Eagles' experience suggests concerns about Sam are overstated

CBS dropped Michael Sam 70 spots in its draft rankings, the day after his announcement

Who would have thought that a mid-round prospect at defensive end would have overtaken Johnny Manziel as the most hotly-debated player in the NFL draft? Michael Sam would have been a debated player even without announcing he is gay. It's just that nobod…

Eagles' experience shows Sam will fit

PHILADELPHIA – Take it from the center of the big top: Media circuses don’t last, and any talk that Missouri defensive end Michael Sam will be a “distraction” that affects his eventual NFL employer is mere hyperbole. Last summer, Philadelphia Eagles wid…

NFL scouts have been digging around Michael Sam’s personal life for a while now

Do you have a girlfriend? Yes, NFL scouts ask that of potential draftees. Almost every time. And usually, there are two answers to this question: "Yes," and "No, I just broke up with one." Scouts care about this because many NFL team…

Colts punter McAfee supports Michael Sam

INDIANAPOLIS -- Pat McAfee used to be one of those close-minded people. He had his own opinions and was very judgmental about gay people. Then the Indianapolis Colts punter met several gay people and his thoughts completely changed. “(I) just realized h…